WCCC News & Updates 7th September, 2018

Here is important information to note for this week 7th September 2018.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

N.B. WE WOULD ADVISE YOU, AS YOU WILL BE ON PIP QUITE FREQUENTLY OVER THE COMING WEEKS, TO CHECK FOR ANY NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS OR INFORMATION WHEN YOU LOG IN.

SCHEMES 2018/2019

Higher Capitation applications September 2018

A notice has gone up on PIP to say that all higher capitation applications will be processed by Pobal this year through an online application system.

Pobal hope that this will make the process easier and will allow for changes during the year. A form and guide will go up on PIP in September.

Parents letters 2018/2019

Please be aware that if you make changes to your fees lists a new parents letter is generated – the most recent letter is at the top of the screen and this is the one which you should give to parents.

Programme Rules

Revised programme rules

A revised version of the programme rules have been published on the DCYA website. You can access a copy here.

Payment Schedules

The payment schedules for 2018/2019 are now up on PIP for your information.

Fee Policies

We would ask services who have uploaded their fee policies to check their status on PIP. For those in draft they need to be completed and submitted, and those queried please amend and resubmit.

For services who still have to commence your Fees list on PIP please familiarise yourself with the “How to Guide” which is up on PIP as there are some changes for 2018 (particularly page 5, please see attached screen shot).

If you need any assistance please contact us on 0404 64455

First Aid Response (FAR) training announcement

As you are all aware from May 2020, all services will be required to have at least one person on the premises who is trained in Pre-hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Response (FAR). As a response to this Minister Zappone announced funding is to be made available to provide one free place (worth €250) on a First Aid Response training course for every registered childcare service.

The finer details of how these courses will be made available have not been released, we will keep you posted through this bulletin.

In the meantime, check the QRF document for your service type to find out the first aid requirements for your service – you will find it under Regulation 25.

Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework

This week Tusla launched the Quality and Regulatory Framework – the modern equivalent of the old regulation guidelines! The QRF sets out Tusla’s interpretation of the requirements for compliance with the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. There are different QRFs for full day care, sessional and childminding services. The QRFs can be found on the Tusla website here. Tusla are posting out a copy to each service in the next week or so.

Minimum number exemptions

If you offer the ECCE programme your contract states that you must have at least 8 ECCE children enrolled, per room, per session. If you don’t have the minimum number you can apply for an exemption. Please be aware that a number of services were found to be non-compliant over this last year. If you have a number of ECCE rooms, each room must have at least 8 ECCE children. If you are running both morning and afternoon sessions, each session must have at least 8 ECCE children attending. We have attached the guidelines and form for your convenience. If you have any questions about this, don’t hesitate to contact your Development Worker to discuss.

Tusla inspection reports

From 10 September, service’s inspection reports will no longer be found on the Pobal maps website. They have moved to the Tusla website and can be found here.

Attendance Records

Now would be a good time to review your attendance records and to make sure they comply with the good practice guide on PIP (copy attached for your convenience).

A number of services in the County were found non-compliant by Pobal last year because their attendance records did not have a note of the times the child arrived and left the service.

If you have any questions about anything in the bulletin or you need help with any other aspect of your service provision, don’t hesitate to contact us.

OTHER INFORMATION

Updated qualifications list

The qualifications list from DCYA has been updated please see the link below for more information.

The Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA) has re-opened the Learner Fund Bursary to Early Years practitioners who are new graduates of a recognised Early Childhood Education and Care degree programme. The local City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) will process and appraise Learner Fund Bursary applications.

28th September all forms completed and returned by POST OR BY HAND to Wicklow CCC.

The application process for the increased ECCE capitation for LINC during the 2018/2019 pre-school year is now open. Applications must be made electronically via the PIP. Please see PIP for further details.

TRAINING & INFORMATION EVENTS:

Please see below upcoming training events:

Enjoying Irish with Young Children – 13th September, Glenview Hotel – FULL

We are delighted that Colette Murray has agreed to be the keynote speaker at our Childcare Professionals Day. Colette has led the debate on the inclusion of a diversity and equality approach in early childhood as a trainer, lecturer, advocate and researcher. She established the Equality and Diversity in Early Childhood National Network EDeNn (2008).

The day will also include a number of interactive workshops – more details to follow in the coming weeks.

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